About loader.io
loader.io is a cloud-based load testing service for web applications and APIs. It simulates large numbers of concurrent connections against a target host so developers can see how an app or endpoint behaves under heavy traffic, without setting up their own load-generation machines.
Setup consists of registering a target host through the web interface or API, running a test for a set duration, and watching results live as it runs. Result graphs and statistics can be shared with teammates, and the API allows load tests to be built into deployment routines. The site advertises a free tier and lists plans and pricing, and it is operated under SendGrid Labs.
Key features
- Cloud-based load testing with concurrent connections
- Real-time test monitoring
- Shareable result graphs and statistics
- Web interface and API for running tests
- Target host registration for apps
Good fit for
- →Stress testing a web app before launch
- →Load tests in deployment pipelines
- Tags
- load-testing
- stress-testing
- api-testing
- cloud-testing
- performance
- sendgrid
- proprietary
loader.io: questions and answers
- What is loader.io used for?
- loader.io is a free cloud load testing service from SendGrid that stress tests web apps and APIs with thousands of concurrent connections. It is a good fit for stress testing a web app before launch and load tests in deployment pipelines.
- Is loader.io free?
- Yes. loader.io has a free plan, and paid plans start at $99.95 per month.
- Is loader.io open source?
- No. loader.io is proprietary (closed-source) software and can't be self-hosted. Open-source alternatives to loader.io include k6, Locust and Artillery.
- What are some alternatives to loader.io?
- loader.io competes with BlazeMeter and OpenText LoadRunner. For open-source options, see Enlisted's ranked list of open-source loader.io alternatives.
Open-source alternatives to loader.io
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k6
Testing & QA
A modern load testing tool, using Go and JavaScript
AGPL-3.0vs OpenText LoadRunner★ 32k
Locust
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Write scalable load tests in plain Python 🚗💨
MITvs OpenText LoadRunner★ 28k
Artillery
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The complete load testing platform. Everything you need for production-grade load tests. S
MPL-2.0vs OpenText LoadRunner★ 9.1k
Apache JMeter
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Apache JMeter open-source load testing tool for analyzing and measuring the performance of
Apache-2.0vs OpenText LoadRunner★ 9.6k
Gatling
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Modern Load Testing as Code
Apache-2.0vs OpenText LoadRunner★ 7k
Zerocode
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zerocode-tdd is a community-developed, free, open-source, outcome-driven automated testing
Apache-2.0vs ReadyAPI★ 1k
SaaS alternatives to loader.io
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BlazeMeter
Testing & QA
Continuous testing platform for load testing and API testing from Perforce
SaaS
OpenText LoadRunner
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Performance and load testing software for enterprise applications
SaaS
AWS Device Farm
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AWS service for testing web and mobile apps on real devices in the cloud
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mabl
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AI-native test automation platform for web, mobile and API testing
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Parasoft
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Software testing tools for API, UI, unit and static analysis
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Testsigma
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AI-driven low-code test automation platform for web, mobile and API
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